TuneLockr · United States
Register a song in the US: Copyright Office vs. other options
Short answer. In the United States, your song is protected by copyright as soon as it is fixed in a recording or on paper. But if you ever need to sue over a US work, you must first register it with the US Copyright Office, and registering early unlocks statutory damages and attorney’s fees. Timestamping services such as TuneLockr do something different: they date every version of your files, cheaply and instantly. Most working musicians use both.
Published by TuneLockr, one of the services compared. Fees checked on the official websites on 9 November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice; for a specific dispute, talk to a US copyright attorney.
The 5 options at a glance
| Opción | Costo | What you get | Mejor para |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Copyright Office registration | $45 (Single Application), $65 (Standard Application), $85 (group of unpublished works), $65 (works published on one album) | A public registration; required before suing over a US work; unlocks statutory damages and attorney’s fees if made in time | Songs you release or license, catalog value |
| TuneLockr | First deposit free, then from €4.99 a month, unlimited deposits | File fingerprint anchored on the Tezos blockchain, timestamped certificate anyone can verify | Dating every demo, mix and stem before you share it |
| Safe Creative | $23 + tax per registration, or plans from $12.50 a month; free for open-licensed works (up to 20) | Dated registration certificate in a private international registry | Creative Commons releases, mixed media |
| PRO registration (ASCAP, BMI…) | Depends on the organization | Registration for royalty collection | Getting paid for performances, not proving creation |
| Poor man’s copyright | A stamp | A sealed envelope with a postmark | Nothing you can’t do better another way |
Why US registration matters
Registration is not what creates your copyright, but it changes what you can do with it. For a US work, you generally need a registration (or a refusal) before you can file an infringement lawsuit. And if your work is registered before the infringement starts, or within three months of first publication, you can claim statutory damages and attorney’s fees instead of having to prove your actual losses. Registration made within five years of publication also counts as evidence of the facts stated in the certificate.
In practice: register the songs you release, license or pitch for sync, ideally before or right after release.
How to register a song with the Copyright Office
- Choose what you register. A song has two copyrights: the musical work (melody and lyrics) and the sound recording (the master). One application can cover both if the same people own both.
- Pick the right application. The $45 Single Application covers one work, by one author who is also the claimant, not made for hire. Collaborations usually need the $65 Standard Application. Up to ten unpublished works can go in one $85 group application.
- File online through the Copyright Office’s electronic system and upload a copy of the work.
- Keep your files. Store the exact files you sent with the confirmation email.
Where timestamping fits
A registration covers a finished work, filed once. But songs move through many versions: voice memo, demo, rough mix, final master, stems sent to a producer. Disputes often hinge on who had which version first. TuneLockr dates each version in minutes, before it leaves your computer, and keeps them in one place. It is not a substitute for US registration; it is the paper trail that sits underneath it.
What about the poor man’s copyright?
Mailing a copy of your song to yourself is a myth that refuses to die. The Copyright Office itself states there is no provision in the law for this type of protection and that it is not a substitute for registration. An envelope proves when something was mailed, not what was inside, and it does nothing for your right to sue.
Which option for which artist?
| Your situation | What we suggest |
|---|---|
| Releasing a single or an album | Register with the Copyright Office before or right after release |
| Sending demos to artists, labels or supervisors | Date each version with TuneLockr before sending |
| Producer making beats every week | TuneLockr for every beat; register the ones that get placed |
| Releasing under Creative Commons | Safe Creative (free for open licenses) |
| Getting paid for radio and streaming performances | Join a PRO; it does not replace registration |
FAQ
Do I need to register to own my song?
No. Copyright exists from the moment the song is fixed. Registration matters when you want to enforce it in a US court and recover statutory damages.
Is a TuneLockr certificate a copyright registration?
No. It is a private timestamp that shows a specific file existed at a given time. It complements registration; it does not replace it.
Does registering with BMI or ASCAP protect my song?
Those organizations collect performance royalties. Their registration is not a copyright registration with the US Copyright Office.
Date your next demo before you send it: first deposit free, no credit card. See also: how to protect a song, all comparisons.